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Circle Tour
Circle Tour, Eva Tihanyi’s ninth poetry collection, seeks and celebrates beauty in the face of despondency. Its three sections—Outer Circle, Inner Circle, Centre—draw us in as we move from the “outside” world of politics, culture, and art to the “inside” world of relationships with family, friends, and lovers, to the “core” world of the self.
The book begins with a stark announcement of hope: “If you’re reading this, / you’re still here.” It then moves to engagement with (among other things) the pandemic, feminism, and artists such as Marina Abramovic while reinforcing the healing power of Nature throughout our experiences with external, beyond-our-control circumstances. In the more personal second section, Tihanyi writes about loss through death; the continuing influence of her grandmother; the end of one love moving into a new, more profound love; the importance of friends, reminding us that “each day we must be / lucid with mutiny against despair.” The final section focuses on the self—not just the poet’s own but the universal human Self. It confronts the process of aging and its attendant contemplations, and once again reminds us of how Nature and art can help us in our “continuous becoming.”
The poems in Circle Tour invite a sequential reading as the book gathers force as it spirals upward. It takes us on a powerful journey that ends with the ultimate affirmation that leads us full circle to our present moment: “Enough on this day / to be enormously alive.”
“In Circle Tour Eva Tihanyi not only poses the question, what does it mean to make art and meaning in an uncertain world? she pulls us into this question and the act of questioning. “The artist is more than present” in these poems, but—more than that—we are invited to be present too. A journey through the concentric circles of Tihanyi’s carefully structured book is a coming-to-presence. Circle Tour is a powerful collection that challenges us to rethink the nature and potential of lyric poetry as a mode of human contact and imaginative response.”
—Johanna Skibsrud, author of The Description of the World, The Poetic Imperative: A Speculative Aesthetics, and the novel The Sentimentalists (winner of the Giller Prize).
“A lyrical, big-hearted celebration of what it takes to remain whole and hopeful, come what may.”
—Rona Maynard, author of My Mother’s Daughter and former Editor of Chatelaine
The book begins with a stark announcement of hope: “If you’re reading this, / you’re still here.” It then moves to engagement with (among other things) the pandemic, feminism, and artists such as Marina Abramovic while reinforcing the healing power of Nature throughout our experiences with external, beyond-our-control circumstances. In the more personal second section, Tihanyi writes about loss through death; the continuing influence of her grandmother; the end of one love moving into a new, more profound love; the importance of friends, reminding us that “each day we must be / lucid with mutiny against despair.” The final section focuses on the self—not just the poet’s own but the universal human Self. It confronts the process of aging and its attendant contemplations, and once again reminds us of how Nature and art can help us in our “continuous becoming.”
The poems in Circle Tour invite a sequential reading as the book gathers force as it spirals upward. It takes us on a powerful journey that ends with the ultimate affirmation that leads us full circle to our present moment: “Enough on this day / to be enormously alive.”
“In Circle Tour Eva Tihanyi not only poses the question, what does it mean to make art and meaning in an uncertain world? she pulls us into this question and the act of questioning. “The artist is more than present” in these poems, but—more than that—we are invited to be present too. A journey through the concentric circles of Tihanyi’s carefully structured book is a coming-to-presence. Circle Tour is a powerful collection that challenges us to rethink the nature and potential of lyric poetry as a mode of human contact and imaginative response.”
—Johanna Skibsrud, author of The Description of the World, The Poetic Imperative: A Speculative Aesthetics, and the novel The Sentimentalists (winner of the Giller Prize).
“A lyrical, big-hearted celebration of what it takes to remain whole and hopeful, come what may.”
—Rona Maynard, author of My Mother’s Daughter and former Editor of Chatelaine
- GenresPoetry
112 pages, Paperback
Published May 3, 2023
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 8, 2023
Hey, folks! I recently had the pleasure of reading Eva Tihanyi's latest poetry collection, Circle Tour, and let me tell you, it's a real gem. This book takes you on a journey through the different circles of life, from the external world of politics and art to the internal world of relationships and finally to the core world of self-discovery.
The poems in Circle Tour are not just beautiful, but they also speak to the soul. The author has a way of bringing out the beauty in everything, even in the face of despair. The book deals with tough topics like loss, aging, and the pandemic, but it does so with a sense of hope and an appreciation for the power of nature and art.
I was particularly moved by the second section of the book, where Tihanyi writes about her grandmother and the importance of friendship. Her words reminded me of the people and relationships that make life worth living. The poems in this section are a tribute to the power of human connection and the beauty of the everyday.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. Tihanyi's poetry is heartfelt, insightful, and above all, beautiful. She reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty to be found, and that we must hold onto hope and keep moving forward. So, if you're looking for a book that will lift your spirits and inspire you, Circle Tour is a must-read. Thank you, Eva Tihanyi, for this wonderful collection!
The poems in Circle Tour are not just beautiful, but they also speak to the soul. The author has a way of bringing out the beauty in everything, even in the face of despair. The book deals with tough topics like loss, aging, and the pandemic, but it does so with a sense of hope and an appreciation for the power of nature and art.
I was particularly moved by the second section of the book, where Tihanyi writes about her grandmother and the importance of friendship. Her words reminded me of the people and relationships that make life worth living. The poems in this section are a tribute to the power of human connection and the beauty of the everyday.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. Tihanyi's poetry is heartfelt, insightful, and above all, beautiful. She reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty to be found, and that we must hold onto hope and keep moving forward. So, if you're looking for a book that will lift your spirits and inspire you, Circle Tour is a must-read. Thank you, Eva Tihanyi, for this wonderful collection!
April 3, 2026
An impeccable collection of small poems organized to move from the outside world to the self. Each poem is chiseled, compressed, and tight, and contains beautiful images that define abstract concepts like "Empathy," "Celebration," and "Rescue." I liked the book more and more as I read through the three circles of its arrangement.
I bought the book at Epic Books in Hamilton, Ontario, which had an amazing section of contemporary Canadian poetry, none of it familiar to me. Still, I was determined to find at least three books to take home. I saw the title and thought the book might be about a circle tour around Lake Superior, and that was enough. When I got home, I realized my mistake. Still, I wanted Canadian poetry, and I was glad to be introduced to its author, Eva Tihanyi.
I bought the book at Epic Books in Hamilton, Ontario, which had an amazing section of contemporary Canadian poetry, none of it familiar to me. Still, I was determined to find at least three books to take home. I saw the title and thought the book might be about a circle tour around Lake Superior, and that was enough. When I got home, I realized my mistake. Still, I wanted Canadian poetry, and I was glad to be introduced to its author, Eva Tihanyi.
January 7, 2024
A journey into the heart of a woman's experience through the power of lyric poetry. The imagery and rhythms draw us close as we read our own experiences alongside the voice(s) in the poems.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews